Okay, I apologize for the amount of threads I keep making but I just really enjoy having second, third, fifty opinions from people who have been in my shoes or otherwise are knowledgeable.

ANYWAY!

Sky will be moved in a trailer from Colorado to Washington D.C/Virginia. He's easy to trailer load, he doesn't fuss too much in the trailer aside from one time when his rope halter came undone (that was so scary....ughh never again!!!) and he is okay with backing out of a trailer.

But he has never been in the trailer for more than 4 hours, and this seems to be a multiple day trip if they stop and get out and run around, etc.

Not sure if my friend is helping or if I am requiring the assistance of a professional equine transport company (I've already gotten quotes, and will be bugging you guys about that too!)

But would it be a good idea to have him in shipping boots or polos or something? And what about the halter? I really don't want him coming undone, and I'm not sure if he'll need one depending on which route we go with (friend via. service)

I use shipping boots almost all of the time, unless it's just a 5 minute trip down the road. I would definitely use them for a trip as long as your boy's. You'll need him to have a halter in the trailer if it's a horse trailer; with a stock trailer where you don't tie the horse it is optional to keep one on.

I would also say that shipping boots may not be a bad idea. Because he'll be in the trailer for such extended periods of time, he may get restless and the boots could prevent an injury if he decides to begin pawing or something out of boredom.

I would avoid polos though, they could come undone fairly easily and he could get himself tangled and have a wreck.

Always remember that feeling of looking at a big, open country over the ears of a good horse, seeing a new trail unwind ahead of you, and that ever-spectacular view from the top of the ridge!!! Follow my training blog: http://robertsontraining.blogspot.com/

For long trips I use standing wraps and bell boots. However if you are not knowledgable about wrapping them a well fit set of shipping boots will protect the legs well. Woof and horseware make nice sets, it just depends on what fits your horse.

I always travel in a leather halter.

You also want to make sure that the horse is toed long enough that he can get his head down to blow, or at least stop every 2 or so hours and let his head all the way down. Restricting his head too much can result in shipping fever (pneumonia) because fluid can end up in the lungs.

Have you used shipping boots before? Alot of horses kick out & do not like them. For this long of a trip, I would try pillow wraps with standing wraps for better support.

We have not, he was kind of shoved into a stock trailer when he first came to CO and has never worn a pair, or seen a pair even.. in his life.

Pillow wraps? as in the quilted material that you put on first and then wrap with that elastic tape? If so.. I'd be worried that I would tie it too tight and cut off circulation (my trainer has made me so paranoid about anything going round their legs)

Anebel.. why a leather halter? Sky apparently broke the nice one his previous owner had him in.. is that the point? A breakaway type halter, or?
Definitely NOT going with rope.. that one incident has scarred me. But I've seen they have shipping halters, would that be overdoing it?

Yep, the point is that leather will break if he suddenly gets down in the trailer and hopefully avoid any serious injuries to his neck.

Always remember that feeling of looking at a big, open country over the ears of a good horse, seeing a new trail unwind ahead of you, and that ever-spectacular view from the top of the ridge!!! Follow my training blog: http://robertsontraining.blogspot.com/

So I should buy a leather halter and have him wear it a few days before he goes, so he gets used to it, so when he trailers.. and there are problems, he can still be kept safe and won't freak about some random thing on his face?

Sorry if I sound completely juvenile.. I just want to know the reasoning behind everything :)

They make oversized/warmblood leather halters? I haven't seen any in Dover

It doesn't have to be a full leather halter, I know those can get expensive, especially for horses with big heads . A breakaway halter would work just as well. Since he's a horse that's been handled quite a bit and is completely halter broke, I see no need to let him wear it for the days prior to shipping, that runs the risk of breaking it beforehand and then not having one for shipping. To most horses, a halter is a halter is a halter . I think I would keep a rope or full nylon halter in the truck, though, for when you take him out of the trailer for walks just for a bit more security on what may be a busy road.

Always remember that feeling of looking at a big, open country over the ears of a good horse, seeing a new trail unwind ahead of you, and that ever-spectacular view from the top of the ridge!!! Follow my training blog: http://robertsontraining.blogspot.com/

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